Baylor president Ken Starr says 'our hearts break' for victims of sexual violence in open letter

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Baylor Bears head coach Art Briles walks off the field after a 44-34 loss to Oklahoma in an NCAA football game at McLane Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 15, 2015, in Waco, Texas. (Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News)

Saying "our hearts break for those whose lives are impacted by execrable acts of sexual violence," Baylor President and Chancellor Ken Starr offered his first public comments Sunday to an ESPN report about the school's response to sexual assault.

The public letter was posted on Super Bowl Sunday. It comes after national signing day Wednesday and before a scheduled student candlelight vigil outside Starr's residence Monday night.

"No one should have to endure the trauma of these terrible acts of wrongdoing," Starr said. "We must never lose sight of the long-term, deeply personal effects such contemptible conduct has on the lives of survivors. Let me be clear: Sexual violence emphatically has no place whatsoever at Baylor University."

He did not specifically address the three women who told ESPN's "Outside the Lines" that they were sexually assaulted by former football player Tevin Elliott and the school did nothing about their complaints. Elliott was convicted of one sexual assault in January 2014 and is serving a 20-year prison sentence.

Starr cited the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act for Baylor's institutional silence since the ESPN report Jan. 31. He pointed to Department of Education guidelines and anoted the internal investigation Baylor commissioned by Philadelphia law firm Pepper Hamilton.

"When Pepper Hamilton's review is complete, we will determine how best to share the firm's recommendations," Starr said.

The investigation came after media attention generated by the sexual assault conviction of another former Baylor football player, Boise State transfer Sam Ukwuachu. He was sentenced to 180 days in county jail and 10 years felony probation for the 2013 sexual assault of a former Baylor female athlete.

Baylor alum Laura Seay, a professor at Colby College, had posted "An Open Letter on Responses to Sexual Assault at Baylor University" that reads in part: "Baylor students deserve more than mere assurances by administration officials that the University is doing its part."

It has received more than 1,200 online signatures.

Although he didn't speak to "Outside the Lines," Baylor football coach Art Briles answered questions Wednesday in a Fox Sports podcast.

"I actually didn't watch it, but my reaction is just sadness and sorrow because it's certainly something you never want to be associated with," Briles said. "You'd like to think you're immune to it, but I'm not sure anybody is.

"So as those things come up and come around, you deal with them to the best that you're capable of doing. Then, you try to educate and make aware to where hopefully it never happens again."